Sous Chef - Santa Clara University

Compass Group USA; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Life Insurance/ AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Job summary

Bon Appetit Management Company in Santa Clara is seeking a hands-on Sous Chef to support the culinary leadership team in delivering exceptional dining and catering experiences across campus.

The role requires 3+ years of progressive culinary leadership in high-volume hospitality, with strong emphasis on quality, safety, and guest satisfaction. You will collaborate with the Executive Chef on menu development, training, and large-scale events to uphold the university's standards.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in Culinary Arts or formal culinary education preferred.
• 3+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience in high-volume hospitality environments.
• Experience executing large-scale catered events and banquet functions.
• Knowledge of food cost controls, inventory management, purchasing, and labor management.
• ServSafe Certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily culinary operations with the Executive Chef, ensuring consistency in quality and service.
• Lead and execute large-scale catered events and campus functions.
• Supervise food preparation, production, and service for residential dining and catered events.
• Assist with menu planning, recipe development, and seasonal offerings.
• Train, mentor, and develop hourly culinary team members while fostering a positive kitchen culture.
• Assist with purchasing, inventory management, and labor cost controls.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, HACCP, and workplace safety standards.
• Partner with the culinary team to implement new programs and service initiatives.
• Maintain high standards of organization, cleanliness, and operational efficiency.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Food safety

Menu development

Staff training

Guest service

Quality control

HACCP knowledge

Education

Associate degree in Culinary Arts

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Outlook

Job description

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Our Passion is Food! At Bon Appetit Management Company we are committed to two things, great food and outstanding service! At Bon Appetit you won't find our managers referring to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that operates in contract food service. That means you will have the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!

Short Description

Santa Clara University is seeking an experienced and driven Sous Chef to support the culinary leadership team in delivering exceptional dining and catering experiences across campus. This role is ideal for a culinary professional with a strong background in large-scale catering, hotel banquet operations, fine dining, or upscale restaurant environments who thrives in a fast-paced, hospitality-driven setting.

As Sous Chef, you will play a key role in the daily operation of the culinary department, assisting with menu execution, staff leadership, catering production, food quality, and operational excellence. Working closely with the Executive Chef, you will help create memorable dining experiences while maintaining the highest standards of food quality, presentation, safety, and guest satisfaction.

Job Summary

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist the Executive Chef in overseeing daily culinary operations, ensuring consistency in food quality, presentation, and service standards.
• Lead and execute large-scale catered events, including university functions, donor events, VIP receptions, conferences, and special campus programs.
• Supervise food preparation, production, and service for both residential dining and catered events.
• Support menu planning, recipe development, and seasonal offerings with an emphasis on innovation, quality, and current culinary trends.
• Train, mentor, and develop hourly culinary team members while fostering a positive and collaborative kitchen culture.
• Assist with purchasing, inventory management, food cost controls, and labor management.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, sanitation, HACCP, and workplace safety standards.
• Partner with the Executive Chef and culinary team to implement new programs, concepts, and service initiatives.
• Maintain high standards of organization, cleanliness, and operational efficiency throughout the kitchen.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate degree in Culinary Arts or formal culinary education from an accredited culinary program preferred.
• 3+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience in hotel banquet operations, fine dining restaurants, upscale catering, or high-volume hospitality environments.
• Proven experience executing large-scale catered events and banquet functions.
• Experience as a Banquet Chef, Sous Chef, or culinary leader within a hotel, conference center, country club, resort, or similar hospitality setting strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of contemporary culinary techniques, menu development, and food presentation.
• Experience managing high-volume food production while maintaining exceptional quality standards.
• Knowledge of food cost controls, inventory management, purchasing, and labor management.
• Ability to lead, coach, and develop diverse culinary teams.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, and other foodservice management systems.
• Comprehensive knowledge of food safety, sanitation, and HACCP principles.
• ServSafe Certification preferred.
• Strong organizational, communication, and guest service skills.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on culinary leader who combines creativity with operational discipline. They bring experience from high-end hospitality environments, excel at executing large and complex events, and are passionate about mentoring teams while delivering exceptional food experiences that reflect Santa Clara University's commitment to excellence and hospitality.

Bon Appetit is a member of Compass Group USA.

Associates at Bon Appetit are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Personal Leave

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely,

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Bon Appetit maintains a drug-free workplace.